The Way Home

The prairie towns of 1876 Texas serve as backdrop for this unusual romance. Naive sharecropper's daughter Eliza Beaudry loses her virginity to handsome gambling man Cole Wallace, thinking he'll marry her and take her away to a better life. When she becomes pregnant, he smooth-talks her into marrying his shy, gentle, younger brother, Aaron, who runs the prosperous family farm and writes poetry in secret. Both Eliza and Aaron are singular protagonists: desperately poor, Eliza is consumed by a believable hunger for something better, while Aaron, though browbeaten by his father, also has dreams of his own. When the two get together, the developing love is slow, sweet and convincing. Tension rises when Cole returns to work his considerable charms once more, but true love does conquer all. Chance (Fall from Grace) has written a lovely story and brought endearing characters to life. (Nov.)